NameCensus.

UK surname

Maughan

A Norman French habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Mohon in Manche, France.

In the 1881 census there were 1,671 people recorded with the Maughan surname, ranking it #2,568 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,505, ranked #1,934, up from #2,568 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Maughan is 3,643 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.8%.

1881 census count

1,671

Ranked #2,568

Modern count

3,505

2016, ranked #1,934

Peak year

2010

3,643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Maughan had 1,671 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,568 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,505 in 2016, ranked #1,934.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,374 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Maughan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Maughan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Maughan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Maughan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 926 #2,983
1861 historical 647 #4,153
1881 historical 1,671 #2,568
1891 historical 1,253 #3,446
1901 historical 2,374 #2,287
1911 historical 2,023 #2,460
1997 modern 3,296 #1,954
1998 modern 3,407 #1,962
1999 modern 3,442 #1,970
2000 modern 3,387 #1,992
2001 modern 3,332 #1,980
2002 modern 3,480 #1,946
2003 modern 3,362 #1,967
2004 modern 3,406 #1,943
2005 modern 3,297 #1,978
2006 modern 3,348 #1,948
2007 modern 3,350 #1,969
2008 modern 3,396 #1,956
2009 modern 3,523 #1,934
2010 modern 3,643 #1,914
2011 modern 3,612 #1,905
2012 modern 3,534 #1,900
2013 modern 3,562 #1,928
2014 modern 3,590 #1,922
2015 modern 3,546 #1,926
2016 modern 3,505 #1,934

Geography

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Where Maughans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Gateshead, Bedlington and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Eden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Bedlington Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 064 County Durham
2 Eden 006 Eden
3 County Durham 049 County Durham
4 County Durham 050 County Durham
5 County Durham 053 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Maughan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Maughan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Maughan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Maughan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Maughan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Maughan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Maughan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Maughan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Maughan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Maughan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Maughan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Maughan

The surname Maughan originates from England, specifically from the northern counties of Yorkshire and Durham. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "maw" and "gan," which together mean "descendant of the gull." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near the coast or in an area with a large gull population.

Records indicate that the name Maughan first appeared in the 13th century, with the earliest known reference being William Maugan, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines in 1246. Other early spellings of the name include Mawghan, Maughan, and Maughen, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to places with similar names, such as Maugham in Kent and Maughan in Yorkshire, suggesting a connection to the surname's origins.

One notable bearer of the name was John Maughan (c. 1592-1673), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bewcastle in Cumberland for over 50 years. Another was Thomas Maughan (1795-1871), a prominent British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and railway technology.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded Maughans was Robert Maughan, who arrived in Pennsylvania from Ireland in 1773. His descendant, Joseph Maughan (1828-1910), was a Mormon pioneer who helped establish settlements in Utah and Idaho.

Other individuals of note with the surname Maughan include:

1. William Maughan (1849-1935), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. 2. David Maughan (born 1969), a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for various clubs in England and Wales. 3. Clive Maughan (born 1950), a British musician and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Deaf School. 4. John Maughan (born 1951), an English former professional footballer and manager, who notably managed the Republic of Ireland national team from 1986 to 1988.

While the surname Maughan is not as common as some others, it has a rich history rooted in the northern counties of England, with bearers of the name making notable contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Maughan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Maughan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 695 Maughans recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.32x.

County Total Index
Durham 695 14.32x
Northumberland 555 22.87x
Yorkshire 143 0.88x
Lancashire 49 0.25x
Surrey 45 0.57x
Cumberland 35 2.49x
Middlesex 27 0.17x
Warwickshire 25 0.61x
Lincolnshire 17 0.65x
Kent 11 0.20x
Staffordshire 11 0.20x
Hampshire 9 0.27x
East Lothian 8 3.70x
Gloucestershire 7 0.22x
Sussex 7 0.25x
Cheshire 6 0.17x
Derbyshire 3 0.12x
Lanarkshire 3 0.06x
Midlothian 3 0.14x
Leicestershire 2 0.11x
Monmouthshire 2 0.17x
Westmorland 2 0.56x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.03x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.33x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Shropshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 95 Maughans recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.15x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 95 26.15x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 57 27.12x
Allendale 52 231.11x
Bedlington 50 61.71x
Elswick 38 19.62x
Hexham 37 98.51x
Longbenton 35 34.05x
Ryton 32 187.68x
Evenwood Barony 30 181.82x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 26 17.94x
Bishopwearmouth 25 6.00x
Wolsingham 22 49.75x
Darlington 20 10.68x
Elvet 20 57.09x
Monkwearmouth Shore 20 21.11x
Cowpen 18 32.21x
Coxlodge 18 97.56x
Middlesbrough 18 8.55x
Birmingham 17 1.24x
West Herrington 17 100.00x
Byker 16 13.34x
Newbrough 16 372.09x
Sunderland Bridge 16 208.06x
Armley 15 21.04x
Newcastle On Tyne St 15 11.92x
Westoe 15 5.45x
Brandon Byshottles 14 23.03x
Marske In Guisbrough 14 48.78x
Waldridge 14 172.41x
Ferryhill 13 76.65x
Kirkhaugh 13 1250.00x
Lambeth 13 0.91x
Leeds 13 1.42x
North Seaton 13 127.70x
Sunderland 12 14.00x
Penshaw 11 75.45x
Westgate 11 7.32x
Whickham 11 24.64x
Binbrooke 10 153.85x
Camberwell 10 0.96x
Coundon 10 50.84x
Escomb 10 44.84x
Heworth 10 10.46x
Stanhope 10 19.96x
Haydon 9 67.82x
Holmside 9 75.25x
Shincliffe 9 166.05x
Winlaton 9 19.33x
Benfieldside 8 25.07x
Birtley 8 40.40x
Broom 8 199.01x
Clapham 8 3.92x
Crook Billy Row 8 12.87x
Skelton In Guisbrough 8 18.30x
South Gosforth 8 283.69x
Tynemouth 8 6.16x
Wallsend 8 10.40x
Beswick 7 14.14x
Blindbothel 7 1555.56x
Brampton Bierlow 7 33.82x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.32x
Collierley 7 32.38x
Deptford St Nicholas 7 15.85x
Lynesack Softley 7 53.39x
Manchester 7 0.80x
Mile End New Town 7 31.43x
Newbiggin In Morpeth 7 90.21x
Stockton On Tees 7 2.99x
Throckley 7 104.63x
Tudhoe 7 16.49x
Wallbottle 7 135.92x
Wallington Demesne 7 686.27x
Wandsworth 7 4.46x
Brotton 6 28.45x
Chirton 6 10.93x
Cramlington 6 18.71x
Ford 6 67.64x
Haswell 6 17.25x
Newburn 6 86.58x
Sandhoe 6 504.20x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Maughan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 142
Elizabeth 81
Jane 72
Margaret 66
Ann 49
Sarah 43
Isabella 34
Hannah 30
Annie 20
Alice 15
Dorothy 12
Catherine 11
Emma 10
Ellen 9
Emily 9
Eliza 7
Frances 7
Bridget 6
Florence 6
Kate 6
Agnes 5
Eleanor 5
Elizth. 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Barbara 4
Barbra 4
Eliz. 4
Esther 4
Grace 4
Lucy 4
Margt. 4
Clara 3
Elisabeth 3
Ellenor 3
Ethel 3
Harriet 3
Janet 3
Maria 3
Phoebe 3
Daisy 2
Dinah 2
Dora 2
Isabel 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Margery 2
Margret 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Maughan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 154
William 116
Thomas 87
George 59
Robert 51
Joseph 47
James 37
Edward 19
Henry 16
Matthew 13
Nicholas 12
Ralph 12
Charles 10
Richard 9
Thos. 9
Michael 8
Alfred 7
Francis 7
Frank 7
Christopher 6
Patrick 6
Mark 5
Mathew 5
Roger 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Robt. 4
David 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Jacob 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Cuthbert 2
Edwin 2
Forest 2
Frederick 2
Henery 2
Jas. 2
Joshua 2
Miles 2
Pearson 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Robinson 2
Walter 2
Bertie 1

FAQ

Maughan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Maughan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,671 people were recorded with the Maughan surname. That placed it at #2,568 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Maughan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,505 in 2016. That gives Maughan a modern rank of #1,934.

What does the Maughan surname mean?

A Norman French habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Mohon in Manche, France.

What does the Maughan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Maughan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.